“I’m a UK taxpayer and citizen and I’ve as much right to life as anyone in England.”

The 57-year-old Newtownabbey man called on DUP minister Mr Poots to act on our campaign.

The unfair system means even though Belfast boasts a world-renowned cancer research centre, patients here are losing out in benefiting first-hand from their ground-breaking drug discoveries.

Mr Murphy added: “The situation is extremely unfair and frustrating.

“It’s ironic given a number of the drugs on the list were trialled in Northern Ireland, a world-leading research centre, but are not accessible to patients living here.

“As part of the UK why do the same access rights not apply to people living in Northern Ireland?

“I pay my taxes so why am I not allowed access to drugs that could give me more time with my family?”

The launch of the Daily Mirror and Cancer Focus NI campaign for equal access to medication (Photo: Justin Kernoghan)

Cancer Focus NI chief Roisin Foster said behind every statistic is a person fighting for life.

She added: “Every one is a mummy, a husband, an uncle, an aunt, a child, a cousin. Life is sacred.

“Being able to access a life-extending drug will mean as many different things as there are people.

“For some it will be the chance to hold their first grandchild, the chance to see their daughter graduate.

“It will be the chance to see their son married. We want a system that allows equal access.”

Mrs Foster urged those touched by the disease to make their voices heard and force Mr Poots to act.

She said: “For every family that has been affected I would like them to consider the patients that feel so hurt and hard done by they can’t access drugs other citizens can in other parts of the UK to go on the website and sign the petition.

“We want to be able to demonstrate to Mr Poots there is a ground swell of opinion here and the public feel very strongly about this. Get behind it.” Backing our campaign, the SDLP’s Feargal McKinney vowed to take the fight to the heart of Stormont.

The MLA said: “The public need to raise their voice on this issue and I’ll do my bit to get their voices echoed within the chamber so Mr Poots hears them loud and clear.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to see so many charities and the Daily Mirror getting together to address the gross inequality of people accessing drugs here that are available elsewhere.

“It was always going to be a public campaign to make the difference in this fight.

“The SDLP will throw its full weight behind this campaign and myself and my colleagues have already been receiving emails from the online petition.